Tuesday Morning QB

Kewanee football coach Tyler Nichols has preached a consistent message to his team this season — no matter what happened on the previous play, put it behind and move to the next play.

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By Mike Landis

Star Courier - Kewanee, IL

By Mike Landis

Posted Sep. 16, 2013 at 8:23 PM

By Mike Landis
Posted Sep. 16, 2013 at 8:23 PM

KEWANEE

Kewanee football coach Tyler Nichols has preached a consistent message to his team this season — no matter what happened on the previous play, put it behind and move to the next play.

That message proved particularly useful Friday night at St. Bede Academy. The Academy is a historically difficult place for road teams to emerge victorious, but the Boilers were able to overcome the obstacles and escape with a huge 27-26 win over the Bruins.

“The guys did that repeatedly Friday night and they’re buying into that mantra,” said Nichols of his team’s ability to put tough breaks behind them and move forward.

“I’ve never seen a team face more adversity and come out with a win,” added Nichols. “I couldn’t be more proud of my guys.”

The win puts the Boilers at 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the South Division of the Three Rivers Conference. It also sets the table for a crucial three-game homestand that starts with Bureau Valley Friday night and includes Princeton and Orion. The three teams have a combined record of 2-7.

But there’s no chance the Boilers and Nichols are looking at anything beyond the Storm.

“We’ve had some pretty hard fought games with them and it has developed into a pretty good rivalry,” said Nichols. “Our players are understanding that every single game is going to be a dogfight. There’s not a single easy team on our schedule.”

Nichols said the stars were numerous in the win over St. Bede.

“The offensive line did another great job and our linebackers were outstanding,” said the KHS coach. “And what more can I say about David Washburn. He was outstanding again at quarterback.”

Kewanee’s leaders by the numbers Friday night were Washburn with 175 yards passing (12 of 22 with no interceptions) and three touchdowns, Austin Vervynck with 114 yards rushing, Alan Vervynck with four receptions for 71 yards, and Ryan Hicks with 70 yards rushing and the clinching interception in the closing seconds.

Storm Falls in TRAC North Opener

Bureau Valley dropped its Three Rivers Conference North Division opener to Sterling Newman 34-6 Saturday night on the field turf at Sterling High School.

The Storm pulled within 12-6 on a 2-yard Tucker Schoff TD run early in the second quarter, but the Comets scored the game’s final 22 points. Jake Snow scored three touchdowns for Newman on runs of 5 and 25 yards, and a 7-yard reception from A.J. Sharp. Dillan Heffelfinger added scoring runs of 1 and 5 yards for the Comets.

Lincoln Trail Conference, Week 4 Games — Annawan-Wethersfield at West Central, Stark County at West Prairie, Mid-County at River Valley and Princeville at Mercer County; United at Ridgewood Saturday afternoon